(a) Responsibility for keeping signs in good repair and in good condition rests entirely with the owner or owners of the sign.
(b) Owners of signs of Type 3 and 4 where located on public property, shall pay the City an annual privilege fee plus a fee per square foot of area of one side of sign. The fees shall be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council, kept on file by the City Clerk, and contained in Appendix A of the City Code. Provided that, if the owner is a person, organization or corporation organized and doing business exclusively for a charitable purpose, then and in that event the owner shall not be required to pay the annual privilege fee provided for herein.
(c) Annual privilege fees shall be payable on or before May 1 of each year at the Division of Building and Safety Inspection. Persons with delinquent sign privilege fees shall be charged a service charge of 1.5% per month beginning 30 days after the due date.
(d) Charges for use of the City property for signs shall be a lien thereon and during the month of April of each year the Director of Building and Safety Inspection shall certify any such charges which, as of April 1 of that year, have been delinquent six months or more to the City Assessor, who shall enter the same upon the City tax roll of that year against the premises to which the City property was used for the sign, and the charges shall be collected and the lien shall be enforced in the same manner as provided with respect to taxes assessed upon the roll; provided, that when a tenant is responsible for payment of any such charges and the City Council is so notified in writing with a true copy of the lease of the premises attached (if there is one), then no such charge shall become a lien against the premises from and after the date of the notice. However, in the event of the filing of the notice, the owner of the premises shall cause the sign to be removed and no permit shall be issued for the erection of a sign on City property for the premises until the delinquent charges have been paid and a one- year advance deposit is made.
(Ord. 2504, passed 6-23-1975; Ord. 3428, passed 2-8-1999)